TNIIIA2 is a peptide derived from the matricellular protein tenascin-C, a protein which is highly expressed in inflammatory bowel diseases including colorectal cancer, where tenascin-C expression level is correlated with poor prognosis. TNIIIA2 induces potent and sustained activation of beta1 integrin and promotes invasion and metastasis in colon cancer cells, and causes acquisition of aggressive behaviour, dysregulated proliferation, and migration in glioblastoma cells. In an osteoarthritis mouse model, TNIIIA2 upregulates the expression of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, matrix metalloproteinase 3, and basic fibroblast growth factor and prevents articular cartilage degeneration without inducing synovitis.
